He Emperor of China had sent some peaches to the king of Tondmandalam with a note stating that the fruit gave long life to anyone who ate them.<>
As the fruits were being shown to the ruler, Rama, giving in to temptation, picked up one of the luscious peaches and bit into it. The king was enraged.<>
“You’ve bitten into a fruit meant for me!” he thundered. “For this you must die!”<>
As Rama was being taken away by the royal guards he sighed dramatically and exclaimed: “What a deceitful man the Emperor of China is.<>
He says the fruit gives long life. I took just one bite and I’m about do die. <>
O, what a fate awaits the one who eats an entire fruit!”<>
The king was greatly amused by Rama’s wit. He not only pardoned him but also gave him a dozen of the peaches he had risked his life for.<>
